An American Frontier Legacy: One of the Largest Ranches in the U.S. Hits the Market for $142 Million

Photo byHall & Hall

In the heart of the American Southwest, where the rugged landscape stretches as far as the eye can see, a piece of history is up for grabs. The Great Western Ranch, one of the country’s largest and most storied cattle ranches, has been listed for an astonishing $142 million.

Spanning approximately 500,000 acres—an area larger than the city of Houston—the Great Western Ranch in New Mexico is a monumental property steeped in the tradition of the American frontier. The ranch, owned by the family behind home-building giant D.R. Horton, embodies the spirit of the Old West with a modern twist. This colossal sale follows the passing of Donald Ray Horton, the company’s founder, earlier this year.

A Vast Expanse of Untamed Beauty

Situated near the small, rural community of Quemado, close to the Arizona state line, the Great Western Ranch is a sanctuary of solitude and natural splendor. The ranch headquarters, roughly 150 miles from Albuquerque, serves as the operational hub, surrounded by 225,600 deeded acres and an additional 276,800 leased acres. This expanse includes everything from wide-open plains to rolling hills and rugged terrain, offering a haven for both livestock and wildlife.

At the heart of the ranch are eight homes, including a primary lodge for guests, a ranch manager’s house, an equipment shop, wells, and barns, all designed to support the ranch's robust cattle operations. The ranch is not just about cattle, however—it’s a thriving ecosystem that plays host to a variety of wildlife, including elk, deer, antelope, mountain lions, and coyotes. The delicate balance of predator and prey is carefully maintained, ensuring the ranch remains a sustainable habitat for its diverse inhabitants.

A Trophy Hunter’s Dream

The Horton family has leased parts of the Great Western Ranch to Black Mountain Outfitters, a company specializing in trophy hunting. The ranch’s vastness and its well-managed wildlife populations make it a premier destination for hunters seeking elk and other game. The combination of large-scale beef production and trophy hunting makes the Great Western Ranch a rare and valuable property in the American West.

A Legacy of Building and Ranching

D.R. Horton, the Texas-based home-building company that has dominated the U.S. market since 2002, was founded by Donald Horton in 1978. Horton’s roots in rural Arkansas, where his father raised cattle, laid the foundation for his dual passion for building homes and maintaining a connection to the land. The Great Western Ranch stands as a testament to that legacy—a place where the old traditions of ranching meet the new frontiers of real estate.

A Place Where the Stars Touch the Earth

Life on the Great Western Ranch is an experience like no other. As one former resident described it, the expansive views and the sheer scale of the landscape evoke a feeling of vastness that’s hard to find anywhere else. “We lived up on top of a hill, and we could see 28 miles to St. John, Arizona,” recalls Saulan, who spent time on the ranch. The nighttime sky, untouched by light pollution, reveals a celestial display that feels otherworldly.

This sale marks not just the transfer of property, but the passing of a torch in the narrative of the American West. Whoever takes the reins of the Great Western Ranch will inherit a piece of living history, a place where stories of the past mingle with the possibilities of the future.